CIVICUS speaks with Ivan Novosel, director of programmes at Human Rights House Zagreb, about the results of Croatia’s recent parliamentary election and the potential consequences of the entry of the far-right Homeland Movement (DP) into the ruling coalition.
Human Rights House Zagreb is a Croatian centre of expertise on human rights that seeks to contribute to building a democratic, pluralistic and inclusive society based on the values of human rights, social justice and solidarity.
What explains the growth of the far right in Croatia’s recent election?
Before the 17 April parliamentary election, the ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) was perceived to be the likely winner, which turned out to be correct. Although it lost a few seats, it won the largest share of votes and remained the biggest party in parliament.
However, the fact that President Zoran Milanović was competing for the post of prime minister while continuing to serve as president created ambiguity and controversy. The Constitutional Court eventually ruled that he had to resign as president to campaign, and because he didn’t and campaigned anyway, he wasn’t allowed to lead the new government.
This controversy led to an unusually high voter turnout of over 65 per cent. The fact that those who turned out were disproportionately right-wing voters benefited the Homeland Movement, which won an extra couple of seats and became a valuable coalition partner for the HDZ. One of the Homeland Movement’s main campaign promises was to block the participation in government of members of the Serb national minority, which resonated with nationalist voters.
The results of the parliamentary election also suggest a likely increase in the number of right-wing members of the European Parliament from Croatia. We may see three or four far-right members elected in June, which is worrying for both Croatia and the European Union.
What will be the consequences of the Homeland Movement entering the government?
The Homeland Movement has been confirmed as part of the new ruling majority in parliament. Although the full structure of ministries remains unclear, it has secured three ministerial positions. As a result, we’ll have the most right-wing government since the 1990s.
The entry of the far right into government will halt or reverse progress on civic participation and human rights. Conditions for civil society organisations (CSOs) to participate in policymaking processes are likely to deteriorate, as will funding opportunities, particularly for CSOs with progressive or watchdog functions. The new government may roll back human rights and gender equality policies. For example, the previous government’s human rights and anti-discrimination action plans, which included measures for LGBTQI+ equality, may be abandoned or replaced with regressive policies emphasising traditional family values.
The Homeland Movement has a history of slander, attacks and campaigns against civil society, and there’s no reason to expect this to change. It can be expected to push for regressive policies towards civil society, even though it won’t be in charge of departments dealing directly with civil society.
Its election manifesto stated that it would review all CSOs operating in Croatia to determine whether they are ‘Croatian enough’ or promote Croatian interests. This is worrying given the already low levels of public participation and civic engagement under the previous government.
The entry of the Homeland Movement into government could worsen the situation. While it may not immediately lead to the dismantling of public infrastructure supporting civil society, such as the National Foundation for Civil Society and the Government Council for Civil Society, we don't expect any positive steps. The erosion of conditions for civil society is likely to continue, exacerbating an already difficult situation.
How will the new coalition government affect human rights, and the rights of excluded groups in particular?
The Homeland Movement has announced plans to tighten conditions for migrant workers, aiming for more assimilation rather than cultural autonomy. It wants to introduce stricter border controls, worsening the already dire human rights situation at Croatia’s borders. It also promotes de-ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention, which would weaken protection against gender and domestic violence.
Minority groups, including the Serb national minority, LGBTQI+ people, women and migrants and refugees are at risk. The Homeland Movement’s vision of Croatia excludes same-sex couples, and while it hasn’t explicitly targeted the Life Partnership Act, which makes civil unions an option for same-sex couples, it is likely to oppose further rights such as adoption rights for same-sex couples. It will also oppose the use of minority languages in public places, which will specifically affect the Serbian minority in eastern Croatia.
What regional or international support does Croatian civil society need to defend its space?
The new government is poised to restrict civic space, limit public participation and dialogue, impose tighter state control over policymaking and reduce funding for civil society, particularly for progressive and watchdog organisations. There are concerns about its potential impact on human rights and gender equality policies, exacerbated by the previous government’s failure to adopt action plans before the end of its term.
Civil society faces uncertainty. Urgent funding is needed for monitoring, advocacy and research activities focused on civic space and human rights. Flexible donors are crucial for Croatia and for other Central and Eastern European countries where public funding is proving insufficient.
International support is essential. Close monitoring of the situation in Croatia and promotion of cooperation between human rights defenders and CSOs across Europe are essential to counter rising authoritarianism. Support for efforts to strengthen democracy, human rights and international standards is paramount. These actions are essential to safeguard the work of civil society in Croatia and beyond.
Civic space in the Croatia is rated ‘narrowed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.
Get in touch with Human Rights House Zagreb through its website or Facebook page, and follow @HRHZagreb on Twitter and Instagram.
